"Tolton: From Slave to Priest" is a professional Catholic theater production based on the life of Fr. Augustus Tolton, the first African American priest. This live, one-man multimedia drama opened in October 2017, and is currently on a national tour, performing in venues such as churches, schools, and theaters. Tolton features all elements of professional theater, including set, lighting effects, video elements, and an original musical score.

Fr. Tolton’s compelling story has the potential to renew the faith of Catholics of every ethnicity, encourage vocations, bring hope to communities desperately in need of healing, and inspire all to work for reconciliation and peace by following his heroic example. “I pray that all can know Fr. Tolton’s holiness and friendship.” says Defilippis. “I also pray that through this project, African Americans will no longer wonder if their story – which is really our story – is worth hearing.”

Do you have a great idea for better meeting the needs of students, an idea to improve education in your school, district, or community? If so, please join us for this Teacher Leadership Summit where you can build a plan for your idea.

We are pleased to announce that the PC2 Education Foundation in partnership with Teach to Lead will host our 2nd Annual Teacher Leadership Summit in Lafayette, LA on Saturday, November 17, 2018. This Teacher Leadership Summit: Engaging, Empowering, Energizing is open to proposals until the deadline Monday, October 29, 2018. Please provide a personal email address and phone number in addition to school information when applying.

Teach to Lead works to support teachers as valued experts in instruction and their students’ needs. This summit provides teachers and their supporters with time to collaborate, build skills and get consultation to incubate innovative ideas that can make a positive impact for students in their schools, communities, districts, and states.

How do participants benefit from the Summit?· Develop a local idea into a complete plan for moving forward· Obtain the support of a dedicated “critical friend” from a supporting organization to advance your work· Build relationships with ASCD, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, United States Department of Education and many other supporting organizations· Be provided with: o FREE event registration o Refreshments will be provided during the Summit

Who may submit an idea application?· Any educator with an actionable idea is encouraged to submit an application here.· Teams must have 3-5 members and must include at least one active teacher. Other key stakeholders (e.g. NBCT, district superintendent or designee, retired teachers, graduate student, parent, student, community members, school and government officials) are encouraged.

All submitted ideas must:· Allow teachers to lead from the classroom.· Identify an area of need or target a specific problem.· Develop and implement approaches that address the need or solve the problem.· Utilize teachers’ professional experiences and expertise.· Promote collaborative work among multiple stakeholders.· Seek to create systemic supports for teacher leadership.· Be viable in the local context and sustainable over time.· Be able to show measurable progress over time.

Submitted ideas may:· Focus on any level of change – the school, district, or state.· Be functioning at any stage of development - an emerging idea requiring input and buy-in from stakeholders; something currently being developed in collaboration with recruited stakeholders; or something that has been implemented which is ripe for improvement or expansion.

Submitted ideas highlighting innovative ideas to meet the needs of diverse populations of students are particularly invited. For example, ideas could - though are not required to – address areas like:

· Instructional practice in fields such as career and technical education instruction, STEM or STEAM, world language development, or programs to address social-emotional needs;· Instructional delivery and creative partnering such as school/business collaboration on career readiness, school/college dual enrollment or virtual schooling.· Management and leadership structures such as new professional learning models, non-traditional scheduling, cross-curricular instruction, or distributed leadership efforts.· Innovation leaves the door open for whatever you are envisioning to a better school for your students.

We are pleased to announce that Teach to Lead will be hosting our 15th Teacher Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN, April, 27-29, 2018.

The Nashville Teacher Leadership Summit will bring teacher leaders and other stakeholders together to collaborate, problem solve, and develop action plans to benefit students and schools. Teams must contain at least one practicing classroom teacher, and idea submissions can address any perceived area of need in schools.

Over the past three years, Teach to Lead has helped increase the national conversation on teacher leadership and has helped teachers turn their leadership ideas into action. The US Department of Education and ASCD have been joined by over 150 supporting organizations in this work. We are pleased that Teach to Lead will now be hosting its 15th Teacher Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN April 27-29, 2018.

At the Summits, educators from around the nation will work to collaborate, problem solve, and develop action plans to put their own teacher leadership ideas into action. All educators are welcome to apply as individuals but Teach to Lead asks that you bring a team of up to 5 stakeholders (teachers, principals, administrators, school board members etc.) to make the best progress at the Summit. At least one member of your team MUST be a practicing classroom educator.

Idea submissions will be reviewed by a team of teachers. For those who receive an invitation to participate, registration, lodging for those traveling over 50 miles, and some meals are provided free of charge. Participants must cover their own travel costs. Educators can submit an idea for the Summit regardless of where they live, but travel costs are not covered, so please keep that in mind when you apply.

The deadline for idea submissions for the Nashville Summit is March 7 at 11:59pm ET. All idea submissions must be completed and submitted by this date and time.

As space is limited for each Summit, idea submissions will be reviewed, and invitations for participation, with registration details, will be emailed to those accepted. Please read the criteria below carefully before submitting your idea.

· Be available to attend the entire Summit (8:00 am Saturday, April 28 through 12:30 pm on Sunday, April 29.)

· There will be a reception Friday, April 27 that we strongly suggest you attend. We will have a strategic networking session and you will have an opportunity to meet your Critical Friend.

Submitted ideas must:

· Allow teachers to lead from the classroom.

· Identify an area of need or target a specific problem.

· Develop and implement approaches that address the need or solve the problem.

· Utilize teachers’ professional experiences and expertise.

· Promote collaborative work among multiple stakeholders.

· Seek to create systemic supports for teacher leadership.

· Be viable in the local context and sustainable over time.

· Be able to show measurable progress over time.

Submitted ideas may:

· Focus on any level of change – the school, district, or state.

· Be functioning at any stage of development - an emerging idea requiring input and buy-in from stakeholders; something currently being developed in collaboration with recruited stakeholders; or something that has been implemented which is ripe for improvement or expansion.

You can find examples of action plans that were developed at previous summits using these links:

Calling all P.R.I.D.E. Members past and present to attend a Holiday Social. We invite you to like our Face Book page and access Twitter @Pc2Educate to tweet about this incredible event honoring Ms. Patricia Colbert-Cormier. She is the founder of People Rated Intelligent and Demanding Equality (P.R.I.D.E.) group established at Lafayette High School. Ms. Colbert-Cormier's goal was to inspire young students from diverse backgrounds to experience opportunities to thrive and realize their greatest potential beyond any present challenging circumstances.

Calling all NBCTs! Please join our @NBPTS#NBCTRenewal Twitter Chat on December 17, 2017! This will be a PD full of holiday cheer, professional reflections, and exchange of thought framed through questions focused on accomplished teaching! Please share!

All are welcomed to attend. Parents with students interested in learning more about options for college. Participants will receive information regarding how to complete FAFSA applications, applying to get accepted, scholarships, grants. and much more. We invite you to bring your questions and othes who may be interested.

NCBI Lafayette, Inc. will offer a three-day training seminar to teach an array of leadership skills designed to bring diverse members of a community together to successfully achieve common goals. NCBI is an international non-profit leadership organization rooted in an understanding of individual, community, and systemic change. Its leaders work with public and private organizations to further cultural competence, collaboration and partnerships, and effective relationships within and across group identities.

The Opportunity to participate in this introductory workshop offered in March of this year was such a success that we are able to bring the more comprehensive skill-building seminar to our area. Integrate NCBI Principles and Practices into your Leadership by:

The Nevada National Board Professional Learning Institute: Empowering Teachers as Leaders and Learners in partnership with Alabama NT3 (Network to Transform Teaching) & Pat Colbert-Cormier Education Foundation invite you to

Do you have a great idea for better meeting the needs of students, an idea to improve education in your school, district, or community? If so, please join us for this Teacher Leadership Summit where you can build a plan for your idea.

We are pleased to announce that the PC2 Education Foundation in partnership with Teach to Lead will host a Teacher Leadership Summit in Lafayette, LA on September 15 - 16, 2017. This Teacher Leadership Summit: Engaging, Empowering, Energizing is open to proposal until the deadline Monday, June 19, 2017. Please provide a summer email address and phone number when applying.

Teach to Lead works to support teachers as valued experts in instruction and their students’ needs. This summit provides teachers and their supporters with time to collaborate, build skills and get consultation to incubate innovative ideas that can make a positive impact for students in their schools, communities, districts and states.

How do participants benefit from the Summit?

· Develop a local idea into a complete plan for moving forward

· Obtain the support of a dedicated “critical friend” from a supporting organization to advance your work

· Any educator with an actionable idea is encouraged to submit an application here.

· Teams must have 3-5 members and must include at least one active teacher. Other key stakeholders (e.g. NBCT, district superintendent or designee, retired teachers, graduate student, parent, student, community members, school and government officials) are encouraged.

All submitted ideas must:

· Allow teachers to lead from the classroom.

· Identify an area of need or target a specific problem.

· Develop and implement approaches that address the need or solve the problem.

· Utilize teachers’ professional experiences and expertise.

· Promote collaborative work among multiple stakeholders.

· Seek to create systemic supports for teacher leadership.

· Be viable in the local context and sustainable over time.

· Be able to show measurable progress over time.

Submitted ideas may:

· Focus on any level of change – the school, district, or state.

· Be functioning at any stage of development - an emerging idea requiring input and buy-in from stakeholders; something currently being developed in collaboration with recruited stakeholders; or something that has been implemented which is ripe for improvement or expansion.

Submitted ideas highlighting innovative ideas to meet the needs of diverse populations of students are particularly invited. For example, ideas could - though are not required to – address areas like:

· Instructional practice in fields such as career and technical education instruction, STEM or STEAM, world language development, or programs to address social-emotional needs;

· Instructional delivery and creative partnering such as school/business collaboration on career readiness, school/college dual enrollment or virtual schooling.

· Management and leadership structures such as new professional learning models, non-traditional scheduling, cross-curricular instruction, or distributed leadership efforts.

· Innovation leaves the door open for whatever you are envisioning to better school for your students.

Hurricane Harvey victims in Lafayette- There are numerous victims staying at various hotels here in Lafayette, La. We are in the process of collecting school supplies and possibly clothing as soon as I can get more clothing sizes.

The 2016 Teaching and Principal Ambassador Fellows at the U.S. Department of Education, with support from the Council for Chief State School Officers, are pleased to invite you to attend a Convening on Systems of Support for Excellent Teaching. This event will bring together a diverse group of educational stakeholders in a series of structured conversations around the development of a framework for the retention and support of our nation's educational workforce. The Convening will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19th in the U.S. Department of Education’s Barnard Auditorium, located at 400 Maryland Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20202.

It is critically important to involve the voice and expertise of teachers, school leaders, and district, state, and national educational leaders to work collaboratively to develop and strengthen systems of support for teachers. As a result, we are hoping you can join in the conversation and work at the convening as you have demonstrated your commitment to fostering innovation in the area of professional development through your involvement with Teach to Lead. As a former Teach to Lead summit participant, we believe you have a unique and important perspective on the core principles that should inform systems for teachers’ professional learning and growth.